Roller chain
part · 1880 · Electric age
A chain of links with rollers; Hans Renold patented the modern design.
Principles and materials it uses
- Steel — is made of. The chain’s links, pins and rollers are made of steel.
Where it is used
- Bicycle drivetrain — is part of. The chain carries rotation from the front sprocket to the rear one.
- Chain drive — is part of. The chain is the flexible link of the drive.
- Motorcycle — is part of. Many motorcycles drive the rear wheel with a roller chain.
- Escalator — is part of. A chain pulls the steps.
- Chainsaw — is part of. The cutting chain is a roller chain with teeth.
- Combine harvester — is part of. Chain drives power the working parts.
- Electric bicycle — is part of. The chain drive from the pedals remains.
- Cycle rickshaw — is part of. A chain drive.
- Tricycle — is part of. A chain drive.
- Wright Flyer — is part of. The propellers were driven from the engine by bicycle chains — the Wrights were bicycle makers.
- Bucket elevator — is part of. A chain or a belt.
- Rover safety bicycle — is part of. A chain drive.
- Derailleur — is used in. It moves the chain across.
- Roller coaster — is part of. A chain lift.
- Recumbent bicycle — is part of. The drive is by chain.
Things built in a similar way
- Continuous track — works like. A track is a closed chain of hinged links driven by a sprocket; the principle is that of a roller chain, on a different scale.
- Chain mail — works like. Interlinked links — a flexible metal structure.